Division-plate for egg-cases.



C. I. VOORHORST. 7

DIVISION PLATE FOR EGG CASES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16. 1914. RENEWED OCT. 25. 1916.

1,227,224, Patented May 22, 1917.

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS n s'rans DIVISION-PLATE FOR EGG-CASES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 191 '7.

Application filed January 16, 1914, Serial No. 812,426. Renewed October 25, 1916. Serial No. 127,532.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CLARENCE J. VooR- HORST, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Division-Plates for Egg-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention is an improvement in division plates for egg cases, and particularly in that character of division plates described and claimed in my Patent No. 8 17 ,854 granted March 19, 1907, the object of my present improvements being to so form a plurality of divisionplates as that each of the upper plates of a series will support its layer of eggs'and be in turn supported by the layer of eggs immediately below the same, the eggs being so held as that their proven strength in each layer will support superposed layers thereabove, The principle involved is that of a saddle which rests upon its support and in turn suspends its load by means of its stirrups.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates my present improvements,

Figure 1 is a sectional view taken through several of the superimposed plates with hemispherical pockets and showing eggs held in position withinthe pockets,

Fig. 2 is a plan view ofone of the complete division plates, portions of which are shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken through a pair of the plates with eggs therebetween, showing pockets in the form of hemi-ovoids.

Referring now to these figures it will be seen, that as in my patent above referred to, I provide plates in each of'which pockets are projected to both sides of an intermediate plane and in which the curves of all adjacent pockets in all directions, merge on gradual lines with each other.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the pockets are hemispherical, as indicated at A, and no portion of the surface of the plate adjacent to its several pockets is formed ina flat plane, being curved in all directions on lines which merge evenly and gradually with the curvature of the pockets, each pocket having a central opening a the surrounding edge of which is preferably reinforced and the function of which is to receive the points of the eggs of a layer therebelow, thus saddling the plate in such a manner as to take advantageof the maximum and pro-ven strength of the eggs.

In the form shown in Fig. 3 the several pockets B are in the form of hemi-ovoids, the gradual curvature of the plates between their pockets being sacrificed to a certain eX-- I tent in order that the pockets themselves may more nearly conform to the. precise shape of the eggs, these pockets being formed with central apertures 6 similar to the openings 0; of pockets A in Figs. land 2, and for the same purpose, openings 1) having their surrounding edges reinforced.

' In Figs. 1 and 2 the reinforcement of the openings or apertures a is shown in the form of edge flanges which are flattened upon the outer surfaces of the pocket walls, while in Fig. 3 these reinforcements are shown in the form of circular crimps spaced slightly from the edges of the apertures and with the material of the plate pressed outwardly, as regards the several pockets. It is obvious, however, that the same result may be obtained by many other means either in the form'of supplemental parts or varied formations of the plates themselves.

By the use of this invention which is, in effect, a saddle system of supporting division plates for use in the storage and transportation of uniformly-shaped equilinear objects, I get the greatest rigidity of main tenance in position together with the greatest flexibility and adaptability to individual idiosyncrasies of the sustained load. The density of the pack is also a maximum.

. In use in the packing of eggs, the perforated division plate, with suitable backing, supports the first layer of eggs; a sec ond division plate'rides on this first layer of eggs and in turn supports a second layer of eggs, each egg projecting through the division-plate through alternate top and bottom openings to the points of contact with. the respective eggs involved; the third plate repeats the function of the second, and so on to the completed stack. If the openings through the plate are a little less than the one-fourth height diameter of the eggs involved the packed case will maintain its T load with each vertical series slightly separated from its upper and lower neighbor, its adjacent "ertical columns at all sides breaking joints with it at their respective one-half-height and the whole being in a condition of continuous saddle support and rider.

After the stack is completed and bound its position will be negligible, the perforated division-plates maintaining the eggs in their positions in their respective saddles.

The plates may be manufactured from any suitable material, the principles apply ing to the production of expanded metal lath being applicable, or they may be formed by embossing semi-plastic material orby direct production from the stud-chest of a paper-mill.

In use the advantages inciude the possibility of storing within any limited space the greatest number of uniform units, their position rigidly maintained with complete isolation one from the other; maximum ventilation; and the lightest possible construction'combined with the greatest structural strength.

I claim V 1. As an improved article of manufacture, a pocketed division plate for use in the storage and transportation of uniformly shaped objects, having its pockets projecting alternately from its opposite faces and having the curvature of its pockets united each with the adjacent pockets by gradual even surfaces which curve in all directions on lines merging with the curvature of the pockets and in which no flat surface meets a curved surface throughout the pocketed area of the plate, the said pockets being provided with central apertures through which the said objects may partially project and by which the plates are saddled on the objects and the latter maintained in a uniform position, and the edges of the said pockets surrounding their said apertures being reinforced, all for the purpose set forth. 7

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a pocketed division plate for use in the "stor age and transportation of uniformly shaped objects, having its. pockets projecting alternately from its opposite faces and having the curvature of its pockets united each with the adjacent pockets by gradual even surfaces which curve in all directions on lines merging with the curvature ofthe'pockets and in which no flat surface meets a'curved surface throughout the pocketed area of the plate, the said pockets being provided with central apertures through which -the said objects may partially project and by which the plates are saddled on the objects and thelatter maintained in a uniform position to support the several objects out of contact with one another. a V

3. A pocketed division plate having pockets projecting to both sides of an inter= mediate plane and having each of said pockets provided with a central aperture through which objects held in the pockets may be partially projected in order to saddle the plates and maintain the, objects in uniform position out ofcontact vwith one another. V

4. As an improved article of manufacture, a perforate division plate having oppositely opening pockets and apertures in the bases of the pockets toreceive through its opposite faces, objects disposed in the pockets, to project partially through the said apertures, whereby to maintain the objects in uniform position, out of contact with one another, and thus permit of saddling' the plates on the objects in a stack.

CLARENCE J. vooRHoRsr WVitnesses ARTHUR LANGGUTH, HENRY L. LYoNs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0. 

